Chapter 17—The Cross Gave Death Stroke to Satan
He [Christ] died on the cross to give the death-stroke to Satan, and
to take away the sin of every believing soul.—
Manuscript 61, 1903
.
What right had Christ to take the captives out of the enemy’s hands?
The right of having made a sacrifice that satisfies the principles of
justice by which the kingdom of heaven is governed. He came to this
earth as the Redeemer of the lost race, to conquer the wily foe, and, by
His steadfast allegiance to right, to save all who accept Him as their
Saviour. On the cross of Calvary He paid the redemption price of the
race. And thus He gained the right to take the captives from the grasp
of the great deceiver, who, by a lie, framed against the government of
God, caused the fall of man, and thus forfeited all claim to be called a
loyal subject of God’s glorious everlasting kingdom.—
The Signs of
the Times, September 30, 1903
.
Christ on the cross not only draws men to repentance toward God
for the transgression of His law—for whom God pardons He first
makes penitent—but Christ has satisfied justice; He has proffered
Himself as an atonement. His gushing blood, His broken body satisfy
the claims of the broken law, and thus He bridges the gulf which sin
has made. He suffered in the flesh that with His bruised and broken
body He might cover the defenseless sinner. The victory gained at His
death on Calvary broke forever the accusing power of Satan over the
universe and silenced his charges that self-denial was impossible with
God and therefore not essential in the human family.—
Manuscript 50,
1900
.
He [Christ] planted His cross midway between heaven and earth,
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that He might wrestle with and overcome the powers of darkness. He
gave His life for the life of sinners, and Satan, the prince of the world,
was cast out.—
Manuscript 44, 1901
.
Soon was to be offered the great Sacrifice to which all the Jewish
offerings pointed. When with the cross before Him, the Saviour uttered
the sublime prediction, “Now shall the prince of this world be cast
out. And I, if I be lifted up, shall draw all men unto me,” He saw
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